Asda to offer “real” work experience to youngsters
Asda has said that it will offer 15,000 young people a week of “real” work experience, rather than acting as tea-makers for a week as many work experience candidates do.
The 14 to 16 year-olds will have a chance to work in stock control, delivery and customer services during their placements this year. As part of the scheme, every one of Asda’s 371 stores will be adopting a local school or college to help introduce young people into the world of work.
The company also unveiled plans for 15,000 of its workers to take part in a 12-week apprenticeship programme to improve their training and skills.
Initially it will give eligible colleagues in Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the North East a chance to gain a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Retail Skills – equivalent to five good GCSEs – before being rolling out to the rest of the UK before the end of 2010.
Andy Clarke, Asda's chief operating officer, said: "One million people under the age of 25 are unemployed, and it's probably going to get worse before it gets better.
"That's why I'm determined that we do everything we can now to help young people get a foot in the door. This is about giving them a hand up, not a hand out.
"This year Asda will offer 15,000 work experience places to 14 to 16-year-olds, plus 15,000 apprenticeships to existing colleagues, ideal for those at the start of their retail career.
"Despite having the lowest turnover in the industry, due to our size, we'll also recruit 22,000 new people to join our business and fill existing vacancies".
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